Hollister
– More details emerged on Tuesday regarding an accident that
resulted in the arrest of a Watsonville man for felony hit and run.
The crash hospitalized two Hollister residents, one with major
injuries. It occurred just north of Briggs Road on Highway 25 on
Monday evening.
Hollister – More details emerged on Tuesday regarding an accident that resulted in the arrest of a Watsonville man for felony hit and run. The crash hospitalized two Hollister residents, one with major injuries. It occurred just north of Briggs Road on Highway 25 on Monday evening.
Josue Santiago Cruz, 21, rear-ended a 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass stopped to make a left-hand turn at 55 mph shortly after 4pm, according to the CHP. The driver of the Cutlass, Miguel Heredia, 41, of Hollister, had moderate injuries. His passenger, Jesus Espinoza, 70, of Hollister, had major injuries, CHP Officer Brad Voyles said.
Cruz fled the scene on foot into a cherry orchard on the east side of Highway 25, leaving his wife and 9-month-old daughter in the vehicle, CHP Sgt. Steve Temple said.
CHP officers, assisted by San Benito County Sheriff’s deputies, were unable to find Cruz after searching the orchards near the scene. Officers did recover Cruz’s green card at the site, they said. He was operating the vehicle without a license.
Both lanes of traffic were stopped when Espinoza was airlifted by Cal-Star helicopter to the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Heredia and Cruz’s wife and 9-month-old daughter were taken by ambulance to Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister.
The wife admitted Cruz was the driver at the hospital. Officers arrested Cruz when he arrived at Hazel Hawkins Monday evening, Voyles said.
Cruz faces one felony count of a hit and run resulting in injury to a person, a misdemeanor driving without a license, a misdemeanor evidence of financial responsibility and a misdemeanor giving false information to a peace officer.
Bail is set at $20,000. Cruz will be arraigned Wednesday.
